When There Is Nothing Left But Love

He smiled and took the bowl of chowder from me, then he sipped from it. He nodded, probably thinking it was fine. “Do you cook a lot in the past?”

I could never understand how he managed to shift the topics that fast. I shook my head. “No. I often saw my grandma making this when I was little.”

He nodded and sipped the chowder in silence, as if reminiscing the past. I didn’t want to break the silence, so I observed him. A short while later, he looked up at me. “Was it hard living in R Province?”

I stared at him, stupefied. “How did you know that’s where I lived?”

He found that question amusing. “That’s not too hard to figure out. I told you I helped you out so I can get my hands on that sandalwood box. Is it that surprising that I’d look into your past then?”

Well, that argument was sound, so I nodded. “I see.” He waited for me to continue, so I said, “Not really. I didn’t starve or die out in the cold. At least it was better than how I live now.”

He smiled at me again and put the bowl away. “Have you ever regretted at choosing Ashton?”

by surprise, and I couldn’t answer him. “There’s still some in the

shook his head,

to my bedroom, spaced out. Have I

I thought of Armond and his wound, and I wondered

came to open it, though I heard something crashing inside. Surprised,

so I heaved a sigh and went to knock on it. “Are you alright, Mr. Murphy?”

interrupted, but

door, but it wouldn’t budge. Looks like I’ll have to wait. He came out a long while later and was covering himself with a towel. Did he

dragged him to the chair, fuming. Then I pulled

I noticed that he was

was really lean. “Dammit. Water got into it, and a pus is forming,” I cursed and looked at him. “Just wipe yourself off with a towel if you want to take a bath. Going under

smiled at me again. “I’m used to it, so